Carbureter.



F. R. SUNDERMAN.

CARBURETER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2l, I9I3. 1 179,381 Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

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V"-/V/ y 59 1 II i F. R. SUNDERMAN.

CARBURETER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2l, 1913.

1,179,381. Patented Apr. u, 1916.

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T A sra'rns PATENT opinion.

FREDERICK SUNDERMAN, 0F NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SUND'ERMANSAFETY CARBURETOR CORPORATION, OF N EWBURGH, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK.

` CARBURETER.

T o all whom t may concern Beit known that I, FREDERICK R. SUN- DERMAN,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newburgh, in thecounty of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Carbureters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to carbureters, and consists in the novel featuresand combinations of the parts hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in thev appended claims.

The object of the invention is the provision of a durable, safe andeflicient carbureter by means of which the hydrocarbon will be readilyvaporized and properly intermingled with the air to securethoroughcarburization, and by means of which the proportions of the mixture willbe so regu- Alated as to give uniform and reliable operation at allspeeds, and insure easy starting of the engine.

My invention will be more readily understood and further objects of theinvention will more fully appear from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carbureterembodying the preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the same taken on line A-A of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is across-sectional view taken on line B-B of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows C; and Fig. 4 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a passageway adapted to be connected bysultable pipes to the combustion chambers of an engine, the passagewayhaving an enlar ement 2 serving as a mixing chamber from t e bottom ofwhich extend two branch passageways 3 and 4. The lower part of themixing chamber is formed in a main casting o, while the upper part ofthe chamber is formed in a casting 6 having an annular Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

serial No. 749,776.

ber surrounding the openings to the branches 3 and 4. The branchpassageway 3, which may be considered as a continua-tion of thepassageway leading to the engine, is one-half of the cross-sectionalarea of the passageway 4, and comprises an upright portion 12 and alower inclined portion 13, the passageways 3 and 1 being divided by awall 14 in which is detachably secured a vertical valve stem or rod 15extending into the mixing chamber. The rod is preferably secured inposition by threads 16 cut on its lower end which engage in suitablethreads tapped in the wall, and the upper end of the rod is providedwith means such as a head 17 for limlting the upward movement of a valve18 slidingly mounted on the rod and adapted to seat on the valve seat 11surrounding the openings to the branches. In the preferred formof theinvention this sliding valve is in the form of an inverted cone having adownwardly tapering conical outer surface adapted to fit the valve seat11. In the preferred form of the invention the valve is what may betermed a` gravity floating valve, since it is free to slide upon a rod15 in response to suction and compression in the engine. This valve ispreferably without springs and is of such weight that it is raised fromits seat proportionally to the suction of the engine, in which case itserves as a regulator controlling the amount of fuel mixture passingthrough the carbureter to prevent over-feeding of the engine, the valvebeing lifted from its seat proportionately to the suction produced bythe cylinders.

A receptacle 19 for liquid hydrocarbon is provided adjacent thepassageway 3, the receptacle being secured to the main casting 5 bysuitable means such as screws 20. This receptacle is preferably in theform of a single casting having a detachable cover 21, the wall 22 ofthe receptacle acting to close the side of the passageway 3. A passage'way 23 extends from the bottom of the receptacle up through this wall soas to convey the hydrocarbon from the receptacle to the passageway 3.The upper end of the passageway is inclined in the direction of thevalve 18, and is provided at its opening to the passageway 3 with anozzle 211 also pointing in the direction of the valve so aS to directthe spray of hydrocarbon directly against the valve surface. The flow ofhydrocarbon through this nozzle is controlled by a suitable needle valve25 extending through an opening 26 in the wall 22 transverse to thepassageway 3.

The passageway 23 below the needle valve is provided with a threadedopening 27 into which is fitted a small tube 28 which extends into thepassageway 3 and is bent upward so as to discharge hydrocarbon in thedirection of the sliding valve 18. This tube constitutes a second nozzlehaving a relatively small opening as compared with the nozzle 24. Thenozzle 28 may be termed a starting or low speed nozzle, since itspurpose is to supply hydrocarbon the amount of which is controlledsolely by the suction at the nozzle, so that the proper amount ofhydrocarbon will be delivered for starting and running at low speeds,without the necessity of delicate adjustment of the needle valve to suitsta ting conditions. In starting up an engine if the single nozzle usedis not manually.` controlled with the throttle, a proper variation inhydrocarbon cannot be obtained for both starting and running under load;and on the other hand, if the single nozzle is used connected to operatewith the throttle valve, it requires a very delicate adjustment of theneedle valve to obtain quick and reliable starting with satisfactoryoperation at the higher speeds. The double nozzle construction as hereinused insures easy starting, enables the engine to pick up quickly whilerunning under varying conditions of load, and avoids the necessity of avery aecurate adjustment of the needle valve. The height of thesenozzles with relation to the hydrocarbon receptable and the adjustmentof the float is such that the nozzles extend well above themaximumheight of liquid hydrocarbon in the receptable so that at no timewill the carbureter become flooded.

The length of the downwardly tapering surface of the valve 18 and theposition of the nozzle 24 relative thereto are preferably such that thehydrocarbon drawn through the nozzle is directed against the taperingvalve surface in all operative positions of the valve so as tothoroughly disperse the hydrocarbon and intermingle it with the air,whether the valve is barely lifted from its seat or is raised to itsmaximum height on the rod.

A drip tank 30 is provided in the main casting at the bottom of thevertical portion of the passageway 3, and is provided with an opening 31through which any liquid hydrocarbon which may find its way down throughthe passageway 3,.will flow into the drip tank and be held untilsubsequently vaporized. The lower'end'ofthe passageway 3 is providedwith a valve adapted to normally close the air inlet opening. This valveis preferably arranged as follows: The end of the passageway is providedwith a cap 32 having an annular flange 33 threaded onto the end of thepassageway, and the cap is provided with an air inlet opening 35normally closed by a ball 36 fitting a seat 37 formed in the cap. Theball is mounted on ribs 38 extending radially from the walls of thepassageway so as to guide the ball in its movements and permit thepassage of air between the ball and the wall of the passageway when theball is raised from its seat. The ribs are' preferably provided withshoulders 40 for holding the ball in proximity to its seat to preventits getting dislodged in the passageway 3, the shoulders beingsufiiciently remote from the valve seat to permit the desired maximummovement of the ball. This valve may be termed a floating gravity ballcheck valve, since it assumes different positions along the ribs formingits guideway proportional to the suction in the passageway 3. When agreater supply of air is required than that permitted at any time topass through the air inlet opening 35, it is obtained through theauxiliary air branch 4, the admission of air through which is controlledby a butterfly valve 41 secured by a set screw 42 to a stem 43 extendingacross the passageway.

The principal object of the valve 36 at the lower end of the branch 3 isto produce a relatively high vacuum in the passageway 3 on starting theengine, so as to draw the hydrocarbon through the nozzles 24 and 28 withconsi erable force, thus insuring more thorough vaporization and arelatively rich mixture in starting. The valve 36 not only permits arelatively high vacuum to be developed in the passageway 3 in startingthe engine, but the weight 'of the ball requires that the same pressurebe maintained,

throughout different speeds of the engine, for asthe engine is speededup the valve 18 is lifted by the increased suction of the engine untilthe inflowing air is sufficient toneutralize the pressure, whereupon theball is supportedat this position. The ball thus causes a substantiallyuniform pressure to be maintained in the passageway throughout allspeeds of the engine, the pressure depending upon the weight of theball, unless springs should be used to assist in holding the ball on itsseat.

Due to the fact that the auxiliary air is fed to the mixing chamberthrough a separate auxiliary branch, the relatively large vproportion ofair to the hydrocarbon desired at high speeds may be supplied withoutreducing the high suction on the nozzles by which the hydrocarbon isdrawn through the nozzles with such force that it is thoroughlyvaporized.

The receptacle 19 is provided with a fioat 45 through the center ofwhich a rod 46 freely extends, and this rod is connected to across-piece 47 which, at its ends, is connected to vertical rods 48which at their lower ends connect with levers 49 pivoted on supports 50extending upward from a base plate 51 suitably secured to the bottomwall of the receptacle. The inner ends of the rods 49 are forked andengage between shoulders 52, 53 near the lower end of the rod so that asthe liquid in the tank raises the float the levers are operated to forcethe rod 46 down through the openin s 54 and 55 into engagement with aball check valve 56 ada ted to fit upon a seat 57 formed at the end oiPan inlet passageway 29 extending through the bottom wall of thereceptacle. This construction provides a reliable quick-acting valvewhich is seated by impact from the rod as distinguished from beingsecured directly to the rod. Another advantage of this construction isthat when the gasolene is shut off from the receptacle the ball 56 is atonce seated to close the receptacle and prevent the hydrocarbon in thereceptacle from owing out.

The needle valve 25 controlling the flow of hydrocarbon to the nozzle 24is threaded through a plug 58 which, in turn, is threaded into theopenlng of the transverse passage 25, the outer end or stem of theneedle being provided with a suitable head 59 by means of which theneedle may be adjusted. A second threaded plug 60 is threaded in .theopposite end of the transverse passageway 25, this plug beinginterchangeable with the plug 58, and at its inner end is formed a seat61 for the needle valve.

The passageway 1 above the mixing chamber is provided with a butterflythrottle valve 63 having a stem 64 projecting through the passageway andextending on the same side of the carbureter as the stems of the needlevalve and the auxiliary air valve. On the stem 64 is adjustably mounteda suitable Y-shaped connection piece 65 one arm 66 of which ispovidedwith a plurality of openings 67 to permit the adjustment of sultableconnections to the stems of the needle valve and auxiliary air valve.The auxiliary air valve is connected to the arm 66by means of a link 68swiveled at one end on the arm 66, and at the other end an arm 70adjustably secured to the stem 43 of the auxiliary air valve by means ofa screw 71 which clamps it firmly upon the stem.

The stem of the needle valve is connected to the arm 67 by what may betermed a yieldable adjustable connection. The connection consists of arod 72 swiveled at its lower end on arm 73 which is rigidly butadjustably clamped to the stem of the needle, the other end of the rodbeing provided with an axial opening adapted to receive a rod 74 whichat its other end is threaded into a connection piece 75 swiveled at itsupper end on the arm 67 by means of screw 76. The combined length of the`con nection piece 75 and rod 74 is made adjustable by the threadedconnection between these parts and when adjusted, may be locked in,position by a nut 77; so that the parts 72 and 74-7 5 may be regardedas two rods having a sliding connection one with the other. The end ofthe rod 74 is adapted normally to abut against the bottom 78 of theaxial opening 1n the rod 72, and the two parts are held in engagementone with the other by means of a spring 8() secured at one end to arm73, and at its other end to a suitable point 81 on the carbureter;

The arm 73 is provided with a suitable connection 82 extendin to thepoint from which the carbureter 1s being controlled. By this arrangementthe relative settings of the three valves may be readily obtained andthe valves, in normal operation, moved synchronously so as to maintaintheir relative positions one with respect to the other throughout theoperations of the engine; but if for any reason it is desired to openthe needle valve to enrich the mixture on starting, as at very lowtemperatures, the connection 82 may be moved in the direction of thearrow against the force of spring so as to open the needle valve to thedesired extent, at which time the sliding connection between rods 74 and72 permits the rod 72 to be moved without'afl'ecting the position of thethrottle and auxiliary air valves, and as soon as the operator releasesthe connection 82, spring 80 at once snaps the needle valve back intoposition to bring the abutment 78 of rod 72 in engagement with the lowerend of rod 74, at which position the needle valve is again in itsnormally adjusted position relative to the other two valves. I prefer tosecure the spring to the casing as shown, instead of securing it to thearm 67 from the stem of the throttle valve, for the reason that if itwere connected to this arm, when connection 82 is moved to open theneedle valve independently of the other two valves, the spring wouldtend to pull the arm 67 out of its adjmsted position, but the principleof operation would be the same. The outer surface of the casing belowthe stem of the throttle valve is provided with a small projection 83against which the lower end of an adjustable screw 84 is adapted toengage to limit the movement of the throttle valve in one direction,while a second projection 79 is provided adjacent arm 73 of the needlevalve, and in this projection is threaded a screw 85 against which thearm 73 of the needle valve is adapte to engage when the arm is moved toclose the needle valve. By suitably adjusting this screw 85 the needlevalve may be held open to any desired extent while the throttle andauxiliary air valves al'e moved nearer to their closed position. Thespring 80 tends to hold the arm 73 against the end of the screw 85.

The operation of the carbureter is as follows: lVhen the engine isstarted up with the throttle valve and the needle valve only slightlyopen, as the engine is turned over suction is produced in thepassageway, lifting the regulator valve 18, whereupon the air is drawnfrom passageway 3 until sufficient pressure is exerted on the ball 36 tolift it; but in the meantime the suction on the nozzles has drawnthehydrocarbon through the nozzles with such force as to supply a good flowof hydrocarbon which will be thoroughly vaporized as it is dischargedinto the passageway with relatively high velocity and directed againstthe tapering valve surface in its passage to the mixing chamber. As thepressure in the branch passage 3 is decreased due to the speeding up ofthe engine, the ball 36 is gradually lifted from its seat to permit airto flow through this passageway past the nozzles, the weight of the ballbeing such as to maintain a substantially constant pressure on thenozzles. IVhen it is desired to increase the speed of the car, or as theload is thrown on, the arm 87 is, moved in the direction of the arrow toopen up the throttle, auxiliary air and needle valves so as to produce arelatively greater proportion of air than hydrocarbon as is desired whenrunning at higher speeds. By this arrangement the desired increase inthe proportion of air is obtained without decreasing the suction on thenozzles, and due to the location of the conical valve 18, the auxiliaryair and the fuel mixture through passageway 3 are thoroughly mixed intheir flow to the mixing chamber. The weight of the valve 18 is such asto maintain a substantially constant pressure in the mixing chamber 2,because as the pressure in the chamber tends to increase, the valve 18is lifted on the stem 15 sulliciently to permit an additional supply offuel mixture and air, which will again equalize this pressure. If theoperator manipulates the controlling valves through the connectionmentioned to feed more fuel to the engine than it requires for any'givenload, overfeeding is prevented, at least to a considerable extent, bythe regulator valve 18 which is raised only 'proportionately to thepressure in the mixing chamber. If at any point in the operation of theengine back firing should occur through the compression valves at thecylinder, or there should be a premature explosion in the passagewayjust beyond the valves, the pressure thus produced in the passageway 1will immediately force the valve 18 down upon its seat, closing thecommunication between the passageway and the branches 3 and 4, thuspreventing the fire from reaching the hydrocarbon through the branchpassageway 3, or from being flashed out through the auxiliary airopening 4 with danger of catching the car or boat afire; and should theflame for any reason get past the valve 18 into the branch passageway 3,the ball check valve 36 will at once be seated to prevent air beingsupplied to the passageway. Back vfiring through this carbureter hasbeen found by actual tests to be impossible.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a carbureber working with arelatively high vacuum and permitting smooth operation of the engineover a wide range of speeds and under varying conditions, and which willpermit the use of a very inferior quality of hydrocarbon.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes in thearrangement and construction of the parts and the omission of certainparts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself otherthan as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus Vdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a carbureter, the combinationV of a passageway for fluid fuelhaving a portion through which service air flows, means for discharginghydrocarbon within said portion, said portion having an opening foradmitting the service air, a suction-operated valve controlling the flowof air through said opening and past the hydrocarbon discharging meansto regulate the flow of air past said means so as to produce arelatively strong suction thereon, a throttle valve for controlling theflow of fuel mixture to the engine, and a separately operated floatingregulating valve mounted i within the passageway below the throttlevalve and above said hydrocarbon discharging means and operativeresponsive to suction for automatically regulating the flow of air mixedwith hydrocarbon from said portion of the passageway to the engine andadapted normally substantially to close said portion of the passageway.

2. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fluid fuelhaving a portion through which service air flows, means for dlscharginghydrocarbon therein, said portion having an opening for admitting theserv-ice air, a suction-operated valve controlling the flow of airthrough said opening and past the hydrocarbon dischargin means toregulate the flow of air past said means so as to maintain a relativelyhigh suction on said means, an auxiliary air intake passage throughwhich auxiliary air is discharged into the passageway above saidhydrocarbon discharging means, a.

val've controlling said auxiliary air intake, a throttle valve forcontrolling the flow of fuel mixture to the engine, and a floatingregulating valve mounted within the passageway below the throttle valveand above said auxiliary air intake and hydrocarbon discharging meansand operative responsive to suction for regulating the flow of fuelmixture to the engine.

3. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fluid fuelhaving a portion of relatively small cross-sectional area provided witha service air inlet opening, means for discharging hydrocarbon withinsaid portion of the passageway, a suction-operated floating valvecontrolling the admission of air through the air inlet opening to yproduce a relatively strong suction on the hydrocarbon dischargeopening, a throttle valve" for controlling the flow of fuel mixture tothe engine, and a separately operated floating regulating anddistributing valve slidingly mounted within the passageway below thethrottle valve and above said portion of relatively smallcross-sectional area for maintaining a steady suction on the hydrocarbonand air openings for automati- 'cally regulating the amount of mixtureto the engine and adapted normally substantially to close'isaid portionof the passage- 4).r In a carbureter, the combination of a passagewayforiluid fuel having an air inlet opening and having an opening throughwhich hydrocarbon is discharged therein, a suction-operated check valvebelow, the hydrocarbon opening for controlling the admission of air tothe passageway, said passageway also having an auxiliary air inlet, avalve controlling the admission of air through said last o ening, and aconical lioating valve sliding y mounted within the passageway abovesaid openings and operated responsive to suction and having a downwardlytapering conical surface against which the hydrocarbon is discharged anddispersed.

5. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fuel mixture,said passageway having two branches, one an air intake branch and theother an auxiliary air intake branch, a sliding regulating valve at thejunction of said branches, and means for supplying hydrocarbon beneathsaid valve, said valve being opened by suction and closed by compressionon the engine side thereof and adapted when seated to closecommunication between the branches and the portion of the passagewayabove the valver 6. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway forfuel mixture, said passageway having two branches, one an air intakebranch and the other an auxiliary air intake branch, a floatingregulating and fuel dispersing valve slidingly mounted at theintersection of the branches and having a downwardly tapering conicalsurface, said valve being operated by suction and compression on theengine side thereof, and a nozzle in the first branch for discharginghydrocarbon against the tapering valve surface, the location of thenozzle and the length of the tapering valve surface bein such that thehydrocarbon is discharged tdirectly against the tapering surface for alloperative positions of the valve.

7. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fuel mixtureshaving two branches, one branch for 'delivering air and hydrocarbon tothe passageway and the other for delivering air, the first branch havinga floating check valve at its opening to atmosphere for increasing thesuction on the hydrocarbon and effecting a relatively richer mixture atlow speeds and the other branch having a valve controlling its openingto atmosphere, a sliding inverted conical regulating valve at thejunction of said branches, said valve being responsive to suction insaid passageway on the engine side of the valve to permit the passage offuel to the combustion chamber, and responsive to compression in saidpassageway on the engine side of said valve to close the passageway andprevent flame from back fire passing out, said valve presenting itsouter surface to said incoming air and hydrocarbon and serving todiffuse and intel-mingle the same in their passage thereby.

8. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway having an enlargedportion serving as a mixing chamber, two branch intake passageways belowsaid mixing chamber, one for delivering air and the other for deliveringair and hydrocarbon to said chamber, a sliding inverted conical valvebetween said chamber and said branch-passageway responsive tocompression inthe passageway on the engine side thereof to close thepassageway, said valve presenting its louter surface to said incomingair and hydrocarbon and serving to diffuse and intermingle the same intheir passage thereby, and a nozzle in the second branch for discharginghydrocarbon against the tapering surface of the valve.

9. In a carbureter, the combination of a receptacle for liquidhydrocarbon, a passageway for fluid fuel having an air inlet opening, anozzle communicating with the receptacle and through which hydrocarbonis drawn by suction and discharged into the passageway, a manuallycontrolled valve regulating the flow of hydrocarbon through said nozzle,a second nozzle communicating with the receptacle and through whichvhydrocarbon is drawn by suction and discharged into the passageway, saidlast nozzle having a relatively small aperture, and

the How of hydrocarbon therethrough being controlled only by suction,and a valve closing the air inlet opening and adapted to be opened bysuction, whereby a greater vacuum is produced in the passageway to feedhydrocarbon through the nozzles.

l0. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fuel mixturehavingy an air inlet branch and an auxiliary air inlet branch, a nozzlefor discharging hydrocarbon into said air inlet branch, a valvecontrolling the flow of hydrocarbon through the nozzle, asuction-operated valve closing` the air opening below the nozzle, avalve controlling the flow of air through the auxiliary air branch, athrottle valve in the passageway above the branches, and leversconnecting said throttle valve and nozzle and auxiliary air-controllingvalves, whereby the proportions of the mixture are automatically variedwith the operation of the throttle valve.

11. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fluid fuelcomprising a mixing chamber having twonbranch passageways connectingwith the lower end thereof, one for conveying auxiliary air to thechamber and the other for conveying a mixture of hydrocarbon and air, avalve seat at the lower end of the chamber surrounding the branchopenings thereto, and a floating regulating valve adapted to be seatedthereon and operated by suction on the engine side thereof to open thepassageway.

1Q. In a carburetor, the combination of a passageway for fluid fuelhaving a lower extension of relatively small cross sectional area withan opening to atmosphere, means for discharging hydrocarbon into saidextension, a floating suction-operated check valve at said opening formaintaining a relatively high suction on the hydrocarbon,

. an auxiliary air intake passage above the hydrocarbon' dischargingmeans, a valve controlling said auxiliary air intake, and 'afloatingregulating valve slidingly mounted in the passageway above thehydrocarbon discharging means and the auxiliary air intake and operatedby suction on the engine side thereof and serving to disperse themixture and regulate the amount thereof to the engine.

13. In a carbureter, the combination of a shell with a partition thereinforming two separate passages opening to atmosphere and servingrespectively as air and auxiliary air intake passages, means fordelivering hydrocarbon to one of said passages, a suction-operated checkvalve at the lower end of said last passage controlling the admission ofair thereto for producing relatively high suction upon the hydrocarbondelivering means, a valve controlling the opening of the auxiliary airpassage to atmosphere, a valve seat at the junction of said air andauxiliary air passages and surrounding the same, and a suction-operatedfloating valve adapted to be seated thereon by compression and servingto automatically control the amount of fuel to the engine.

14. In a carbureter, the combination of a passageway for fiuid fuelhaving an inclined lower portion with guides projecting inwardly fromthe walls thereof, a ball check valve mounted on said guides, adetachable cap piece with an opening therein against which the ball isadapted to seat, means for delivering hydrocarbon to said passagewayabove the ball, and a floating regulating valve mounted in thepassageway above said means for dispersing the mixture and regulatingthe amount thereof to the engine.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK R. SUNDERMAN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, SAMUEL M. WARD, Jr.

